SPORTS TEAM HISTORY

Sports Team HistorySports Logo History
  • Home
  • Sports History
    • Baseball History
    • Basketball History
    • College History
    • Football History
    • Hockey History
    • Soccer History
  • Greatest Player Polls
  • More…
    • STH News
    • Team History Forum
    • Sports Team History Products
STH #3 Home Header 1440x650

Illinois Fighting Illini School History

STH Greatest Player Polls Banner
Sports Forum Banner
STH Products Sale Banner
Sports News History Banner
Illinois Fighting Illini




  • 1951
  • 1964
  • 1990
  • 2001
  • 2004
  • 2007
  • illinois 1951 football squad

    1951 Football squad grabbing a share of the national title

    The 1951 squad posted a near-perfect 9-0-1 record on the season, grabbing a share of the national title. The team started off the season with seven straight wins, beating 20th-ranked Washington and No. 15 Michigan along the way. The Illini suffered its only non-win of the year against Ohio State when neither team managed to score in a 0-0 tie. ...
    Read More
    See Full Story
  • Illinois Fighting Illini Dick Butkus

    Illinois Fighting Illini – Dick Butkus

    Butkus chose to attend the University of Illinois and played center and linebacker from 1962 through 1964 for the Illinois Fighting Illini football team. In his first year on the varsity team, he was named to the 1962 All-Big Ten Conference football team as the third-team center by the Associated Press (AP) and second-team center by United Press International (UPI). ...
    Read More
    See Full Story
  • Illinois football team wins 1990 national champion

    football team wins national championship

    In 1990: The football team wins their fifth national championship, going 8–4 under coach John Mackovic. They are recognized as national champions by several selectors, including the FACT and the New York Times.
    See Full Story
  • Illinois basketball team 2001

    Illinois basketball team wins Big Ten title

    In 2001: The basketball team wins their seventh Big Ten title, going 13–3 under coach Bill Self. They also make their sixth NCAA Tournament appearance, reaching the Elite Eight.
    See Full Story
  • Illini Deron Wiliams

    Deron Williams Fighting Illini Years

    Williams was recruited to play college basketball at the University of Illinois for the 2002–03 NCAA season by Bill Self. In his freshman year, he started 30 of 32 games and ranked third in the Big Ten Conference in assists with 4.53 per game. Bruce Weber assumed the head coach position for the Illini in April 2003 and helped develop ...
    Read More
    See Full Story
  • Illinois football team wins Big ten title 2007

    Illinois football team wins Big ten title

    In 2007: The football team wins their seventh Big Ten title, going 6–2 under coach Ron Zook. They also make their 16th bowl appearance, playing in the Rose Bowl.
    See Full Story

Illini Primary Logo
Illini Alternate Logo
Illini Wordmark Logo

History of the Illini

The Illinois Fighting Illini is among the NCAA's most storied college sports teams. The team has a long and illustrious history, with great moments and unforgettable players. The Illini have won numerous championships, including four national titles in basketball—the last one coming in 2005—and two Big Ten football titles since joining the conference in 1896.

The school's first major success came when they won their first-ever Big Ten title under coach Robert Zuppke during the 1914 season. This marked a turning point for the program and its fan base, as it was seen as proof that Illinois could compete with anyone on an equal footing among collegiate athletics programs nationwide. From there, more success followed over time with multiple bowl appearances throughout various decades, culminating in three consecutive Rose Bowls from 1983 to 1985, which included a win over UCLA during this period as well!

In addition to these successes on field/court action, many iconic figures have come out of Champaign-Urbana wearing orange & blue such as Red Grange (1925 Heisman Trophy Winner), Dick Butkus (1965 NFL Defensive Player Of the Year) or Deron Williams (2005 NBA 1st Round Draft Pick). These individuals were integral to building up not just individual legacies but also helping build up what is now known today as “Illinois Nation” – all those who proudly wear Orange & Blue colors no matter where they may be around the world!

Overall, whether you’re talking about past accomplishments or current stars like Ayo Dosunmu leading the way for future generations, it is clear why so many fans continue to rally behind the University Of Illinois Fighting Illini year after year - because we know that each new era brings potential greatness waiting just around the corner... Go Fightin' Illini!!





College Sports Established
1896

Location
Champaign-Urbana, Illinois

College Name
University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign

Collegiate History
1973 - Present / NCAA Division 1
1921 - 1973 / University Division of the NCAA
1907 - 1921 / Athletic Association of the United States

Conference History
1896 – Present / Big 10

Nickname
Fighting Illini - The University of Illinois Fighting Illini is one of the most iconic college teams in the NCAA. But do you know where their nickname comes from? The story behind their name is an interesting one that dates back to the 1920s.

In 1917, “The Loyal Order of Moose” held a contest to develop a new mascot for the university’s athletic teams. A student named Arthur Luehrmann submitted his suggestion: “Illini,” which was derived from "Illinois" and was meant to represent all those who lived in or near Illinois at that time (including Native Americans). His idea won out and soon became part of school lore.

But why did they decide on “Fighting Illini?” It wasn't until 1926 when head coach Robert Zuppke began using this phrase to motivate his team during games against rival schools like Purdue and Northwestern universities - he wanted them to fight hard against these opponents! From then on, it stuck as part of their official moniker and has been used ever since by fans everywhere whenever cheering on the Fighting Illini!

So next time you cheer your favorite team onto victory, remember how far back its roots go – all thanks to Arthur Luehrmann's creative suggestion almost 100 years ago! Go Fightin' Illini!!!

NCAA Championships
Baseball 0

Men's Basketball 2
1943, 1915

Women's Basketball 0

Football 5
1951, 1927, 1923, 1919, 1914

Soccer 0

Who is the greatest Illinois Fighting Illini?
  • Add your greatest player

To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.

Sports News History

Sports News Worth Knowing

RSS NCAA Football Headline News

  • Former LSU LB Bradie James named to 2024 College Football Hall of Fame ballot
  • Ole Miss adds top WR transfer target Franklin
  • Ole Miss lands UTSA WR Zakhari Franklin, the top player available in transfer portal
  • Urban Meyer goes after NIL collectives in college football: ‘It’s a fancy word for cheating’
  • Big 12 doesn’t rule out further expansion

Sports Market History

Sports Team Marketplace of Champions!

College Logo Battle

Greatest Player Polls

STH Product Sale

College Schools
Menu
  • ACC
    • Boston College Eagles
    • Clemson Tigers
    • Duke Blue Devils
    • Florida State Seminoles
    • Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
    • Louisville Cardinals
    • Miami Hurricanes
    • North Carolina State Wolfpack
    • North Carolina Tar Heels
    • Notre Dame Fighting Irish
    • Pittsburgh Panthers
    • Syracuse Orange
    • Virginia Cavaliers
    • Virginia Tech Hokies
    • Wake Forest Demon Deacons
  • American Athletic
    • Central Florida Knights
    • Cincinnati Bearcats
    • East Carolina Pirates
    • Houston Cougars
    • Memphis Tigers
    • SMU Mustangs
    • South Florida Bulls
    • Temple Owls
    • Tulane Green Wave
    • Tulsa Golden Hurricane
    • Wichita State Shockers
  • ASUN
    • Austin Peay Governors
    • Bellarmine Knights
    • Central Arkansas Bears
    • Eastern Kentucky Colonels
    • Florida Gulf Coast Eagles
    • Jacksonville Dolphins
    • Jacksonville State Gamecocks
    • Kennesaw State Owls
    • Liberty Flames
    • Lipscomb Bisons
    • North Alabama Lions
    • North Florida Ospreys
    • Stetson Hatters
  • Atlantic 10
    • Davidson Wildcats
    • Dayton Flyers
    • Duquesne Dukes
    • Fordham Rams
    • George Mason Patriots
    • George Washington Colonials
    • La Salle Explorers
    • Loyola Ramblers
    • Massachusetts Minutemen
    • Rhode Island Rams
    • Richmond Spiders
    • Saint Louis Billikens
    • St. Bonaventure Bonnies
    • St. Joseph’s Hawks
    • Virginia Commonwealth Rams
  • Big 10
    • Illinois Fighting Illini
    • Indiana Hoosiers
    • Iowa Hawkeyes
    • Maryland Terrapins
    • Michigan State Spartans
    • Michigan Wolverines
    • Minnesota Golden Gophers
    • Nebraska Cornhuskers
    • Northwestern Wildcats
    • Ohio State Buckeyes
    • Penn State Nittany Lions
    • Purdue Boilermakers
    • Rutgers Scarlet Knights
    • Wisconsin Badgers
  • Big 12
    • Baylor Bears
    • Iowa State Cyclones
    • Kansas Jayhawks
    • Kansas State Wildcats
    • Oklahoma Sooners
    • Oklahoma State Cowboys
    • TCU Horned Frogs
    • Texas Longhorns
    • Texas Tech Red Raiders
    • West Virginia Mountaineers
  • Big East
    • Butler Bulldogs
    • Connecticut Huskies
    • Creighton Bluejays
    • DePaul Blue Demons
    • Georgetown Hoyas
    • Marquette Golden Eagles
    • Providence Friars
    • Seton Hall Pirates
    • St. John’s Red Storm
    • Villanova Wildcats
    • Xavier Musketeers
  • Big Sky
    • Eastern Washington Eagles
    • Idaho State Bengals
    • Idaho Vandals
    • Montana Grizzlies
    • Montana State Bobcats
    • Northern Arizona Lumberjacks
    • Northern Colorado Bears
    • Portland State Vikings
    • Sacramento State Hornets
    • Weber State Wildcats
    • Past Teams
      • Southern Utah Thunderbirds
  • Big West
    • Cal Poly Mustangs
    • Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners
    • Cal State Fullerton Titans
    • Cal State Northridge Matadors
    • Hawaii Warriors
    • Long Beach State 49ers
    • UC Davis Aggies
    • UC Irvine Anteaters
    • UC Riverside Highlanders
    • UC San Diego Tritons
    • UC Santa Barbara Gauchos
  • C-USA
    • Charlotte 49ers
    • FIU Panthers
    • Florida Atlantic Owls
    • Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
    • Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
    • North Texas Mean Green
    • Rice Owls
    • UAB Blazers
    • UTEP Miners
    • UTSA Roadrunners
    • Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
    • Future Team
      • Sam Houston State Bearkats
  • Ivy
    • Brown Bears
    • Columbia Lions
    • Cornell Big Red
    • Dartmouth Big Green
    • Harvard Crimson
    • Penn Quakers
    • Princeton Tigers
    • Yale Bulldogs
  • MAC
    • Akron Zips
    • Ball State Cardinals
    • Bowling Green Falcons
    • Buffalo Bulls
    • Central Michigan Chippewas
    • Eastern Michigan Eagles
    • Kent State Golden Flashes
    • Miami (Ohio) Redhawks
    • Northern Illinois Huskies
    • Ohio Bobcats
    • Toledo Rockets
    • Western Michigan Broncos
  • Missouri Valley
    • Belmont Bruins
    • Bradley Braves
    • Drake Bulldogs
    • Evansville Purple Aces
    • Illinois State Redbirds
    • Indiana State Sycamores
    • Missouri State Bears
    • Murray State Racers
    • Northern Iowa Panthers
    • Southern Illinois Salukis
    • UIC Flames
    • Valparaiso Beacons
  • Mountain West
    • Air Force Falcons
    • Boise State Broncos
    • Colorado State Rams
    • Fresno State Bulldogs
    • Nevada Wolf Pack
    • New Mexico Lobos
    • San Diego State Aztecs
    • San Jose State Spartans
    • UNLV Rebels
    • Utah State Aggies
    • Wyoming Cowboys
  • Ohio Valley
    • Eastern Illinois Panthers
    • Lindenwood Lions
    • Little Rock Trojans
    • Morehead State Eagles
    • SE Missouri State Redhawks
    • SIU Edwardsville Cougars
    • Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles
    • Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks
    • Tennessee State Tigers
    • Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles
  • PAC 12
    • Arizona State Sun Devils
    • Arizona Wildcats
    • California Golden Bears
    • Colorado Buffaloes
    • Oregon Ducks
    • Oregon State Beavers
    • Southern California Trojans
    • Stanford Cardinal
    • UCLA Bruins
    • Utah Utes
    • Washington Huskies
    • Washington State Cougars
  • Patriot
    • American Eagles
    • Army Black Knights
    • Boston Terriers
    • Bucknell Bisons
    • Colgate Raiders
    • Holy Cross Crusaders
    • Lafayette Leopards
    • Lehigh Mountain Hawks
    • Loyola-Maryland Greyhounds
    • Navy Midshipmen
  • SEC
    • Alabama Crimson Tide
    • Arkansas Razorbacks
    • Auburn Tigers
    • Florida Gators
    • Georgia Bulldogs
    • Kentucky Wildcats
    • LSU Tigers
    • Mississippi State Bulldogs
    • Missouri Tigers
    • Ole Miss Rebels
    • South Carolina Gamecocks
    • Tennessee Volunteers
    • Texas A&M Aggies
    • Vanderbilt Commodores
  • Southland
    • Houston Christian Huskies
    • Incarnate Word Cardinals
    • Lamar Cardinals
    • McNeese Cowboys
    • New Orleans Privateers
    • Nicholls State Colonels
    • Northwestern State Demons
    • Southeastern Louisiana Lions
    • Texas A&M Commerce Lions
    • Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Islanders
  • Southwestern
    • Alabama A&M Bulldogs
    • Alabama State Hornets
    • Alcorn State Braves
    • Arkansas-PB Golden Lions
    • Bethune–Cookman Wildcats
    • Florida A&M Rattlers
    • Grambling State Tigers
    • Jackson State Tigers
    • Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils
    • Prairie View A&M Panthers
    • Southern Jaguars
    • Texas Southern Tigers
  • Sun Belt
    • Appalachian State Mountaineers
    • Arkansas State Red Wolves
    • Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
    • Georgia Southern Eagles
    • Georgia State Panthers
    • James Madison Dukes
    • Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns
    • Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks
    • Marshall Thundering Herd
    • Old Dominion Monarchs
    • South Alabama Jaguars
    • Southern Miss Golden Eagles
    • Texas State Bobcats
    • Troy Trojans
  • West Coast
    • BYU Cougars
    • Gonzaga Bulldogs
    • Loyola Marymount Lions
    • Pacific Tigers
    • Pepperdine Waves
    • Portland Pilots
    • Saint Marys Gaels
    • San Diego Toreros
    • San Francisco Dons
    • Santa Clara Broncos
  • WAC
    • Abilene Christian Wildcats

STH News

Latest Sports Team History News

The Life and Times of Pat Riley

June 5, 2023

From Toronto Arenas To Maple Leafs A Complete History

June 1, 2023

Unforgettable Rivalries in NBA History

May 31, 2023

The Three-Peat History of Georgia Bulldogs Football

May 31, 2023

Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Search in posts
Search in pages
Sports Logo History
Sports News History
Sports Market History
  • About
  • Contact
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy

Sports Team History
© 2013 - 2023 Sports History Group LLC - All Rights Reserved
  • Arizona Hotshots
  • Atlanta Legends
  • Birmingham Iron
  • Memphis Express
  • Orlando Apollos
  • Salt Lake Stallions
  • San Antonio Commanders
  • San Diego Fleet